The Most Controversial Post of All Time Resolved? HPSP and FAP Credit in the Reserves
The most controversial post of all time is this post about getting credit for HPSP time in the Reserves. It has over 100 comments, and no other post in 10 years is even close to that many. The issue may have led to an IG complaint and Congressional Inquiry, if not multiple of each!
Yesterday, a reader tipped me off that this may have been resolved. Here is the text from the Navy Personnel Command page:
Physicians, Dentists, Optometrists, Physician Assistants or Clinical Psychologists who participated in the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) and/or Financial Assistance Program (FAP) and drill in a Critical Wartime Specialty, can earn up to a maximum of 4 years towards retirement and a maximum of 50 points per year. DoDI 1215.07 page 14.
In response to SECNAV memo of 23 Jan 25 and ASSTSECNAV MRA WASHINGTON DC e-mail ltr of 28 Jan 25, member is eligible for issuance up to four years of qualifying service due to completion of the Health Professions Scholarship Program (HPSP) and validation of critical wartime specialty.
HPSP retirement example*: A CDR, who currently serves in a DoD Critical Wartime Specialty, participated in the HPSP program for 4 years and separated from active duty service with 12 years. Upon accession into the Navy Reserves, the CDR is immediately credited with 4 satisfactory years towards Reserve retirement plus 200 points (50 points per year while in HPSP program). The CDR would need to serve in the SELRES for just 4 more years to reach retirement eligibility.
(Note that they don’t tell you want the asterix means after the word “example” in the above paragraph)
Added 20 MAR 2025:
This file has the most recent publicly available list of critical wartime specialties. It is unclear if this is the list they will use for the above policy:
Joel Schofer's Career Planning Blog 